Dead Dad Dog by John McKay. The Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 to 25th October.

4****: William Russell.

Alexander Dundee is Eck, a gormless young Scotsman headed for a job interview with BBC Scotland and a possible date with a girl he really fancies when he wakes up to find his dead father Wullie, a one time Hoover salesman, has turned up. What is more he cannot get rid of him as some sort of electronic barrier prevents him from leaving the all too solid ghost. What is more other people can see him too. The play started life at the Traverse in Edinburgh in 1988, was a huge hit, moved to the Royal Court and launched McKay’s career as writer and director and a film and television producer. It has not been seen in London since its stint at the Royal Court and is now back as part of the Finborough’s forgotten plays season. It should have been paired with a recent piece by McKay called Sunny Boy in which a guilty and conflicted father drops in on his adult son. He saw it as a companion piece to the first one but illness prevented it being staged which is a pity. But on its own Dead Dad Dog works a treat and gets terrific performances from Angus Miller as Eck trying in vain to impress the Queen Margaret Drive apparatchiks that he is the man they want while his Dad pretends to be a workman checking the central heating. Liam Brennan, who created the role, is a delight – witness his rage at Eck’s claim to be working class. “I selt Hoovers and voted Tory,” he cries. Then there is the moment when Eck has finally got his lady into the bedroom and shut the door – if Wullie sits close to it Eck has not broken the electronic “fence”. Unfortunately Wullie reflects on his own love life and bursts in to ask – “Is your mither deid.” Dead Dad Dog is a young man’s tale and none the worse for that. It is also rather touching as well as being very funny. Director Liz Carruthers has done a terrific job bringing this rediscovery of what they meant to one another to life and the Finborough has done the London stage a service in bringing it back.

Cast

Liam Brennan – Wullie.

Angus Miller – Eck.

Creatives

Director – Liz Carruthers.

Set & Costume Designer – Alex Marker.

Lighting Designer – Rachel Sampley.

Sound Designer – Julian Starr.